When Love Rules The Heart.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9540, 12 July 1909, Page 2

When Love Rules The Heart.

5 BY OWEN MASTERS. $

t Author of "Captain Emlyn's Daughter," "The Woman t 9 Wins," "The Heir of Avisford," "One Impas7 sioned Hour," Etc., Etc. /

CHAPTER IV.—Continued. "Do not temrt me, Miss Casson," he broke in pleasantly; "and give me credit for bearing you in mind. I have engaged a troupe of musicians and vocalists to give a concert on the iawn this evening. lam sure that we shall all enjoy the music and singing. They are not common people, by any means." Helen Howard was gazing at him in surprise, and Lady Annandale exclaimed : "Good heavens, Duncan, what could you have been thinking about? These itinerant minstrels are merely burglars in disguise! And, as for their knowledge of music " Armitage smiled and turned appealingly to Helen Howard. "My dear Flo, you are quite astray this time Miss Howard and I heard several songs yesterday and they were equal to anything in first-class opera. The singer was quite a girl, but she sang with the sweetness of a lark. There were six or seven performers. The leader of the troupe is named Seton. Quite a superior kind of man, I assure you. The girl is his daughter." "I am quite interested in your embryo Patti." laughed Miss Casson. "I am sure that it will be delightful, Lady Annandale. You can tell the butler to keep an eye on the plateIs this matchless songstress good, looking, Mr Armitage?" "You must judge for yourself. Miss Casson." He reddened. "Men and women rarely measure by the same standard."

He turned from the searching look in her eyes. What was it that he read in their depths? An embarrassing silence followed. Lady Annandale was greatly displeased. Travelling minstrels strumming banjos and screeching on the lawn! If they attempted sentiment, they became idiotic, and the wouldbe comedians where eithar vulgar or grotesque.

"Young men are so headstrong and irresponsible!" she reflected. "He positively became eloquent upon the accomplishments uf this abominable girl singer!" Duncan strolled through an open French windoto on to a leafy balcony, his hands in his pokects. The morning air with sweet with the fragrance of flowers. A lark was sinigng jubilantly overhead. "Zilla is a pretty name," he thought. "Her voice is not unlike the voice of the lark—so full of gladness! Therein lies its wonderful charm. It is not the perfect training, but the joyousness and the sweetness. I wonder if the women will appreciate her? How unreasonable Flo is! Poor little thing! And that scoundrel Etherington!" He was heartily t'red of tha day already. So much was expected of him! He laughed cynically."Three lone women and a man!" He wandered through the grounds and watched the gleaming river. He tried to dwell upon his futurS.'* It was impossible. His future was all in the next few days. It depended upon the temper of Lord Rainhill. Wwidths cold man of sixty sympathiez with the eager, passiunats youth of twenty-four. "No," he said aloud, "we shall quarrel, and bitter words will be heaped upon me! I cannot help it— I am not an insensible block! I am human, and, as a human being, am determined to live. Perhaps the strain is deteriorating, and I am the first degenerate Rainhill." A musical voice broke in upon his thoughts, and Lorna Casson stood before him, resplendent in a morning ..dress of pale amber, a crimson rose j_t her v "I hope I am not intruding, Mr Armitage?" she said softly. "I did not know that you were here. Lady Annandale is dressing, and Miss Howard ig reading poetry. Shall I leave you in jieace''" A bewitching smile nlaved about her lips, her dark; £ ye s shone; "I t?*o perturbede for peace, V& Casson," Duncan replied. She glanced at him sympathetically. / "1 understand," she said gently. "Lady Annandale has told me of the inflexible laws of the Rainhills. I think that it is cruel—absurd I I will be candid with you, because I do not wish you to regard me with susnicion." "You?" he asked, surprised. "Yes. lam sure that do alt ready*—Unconsciously perhaps, but ir will soon grow to positive dislke unless I dispel it. Ido not know how much Lady Annandale has said to you about , me" —she hesitated and flushed—-"but Ido know that I have been invited here, with Lord Rainhill's approbation, so that you may fail in love with me!" She broke into a peal of laughter. "I am an heiress, Mr Armitage." Duncan reddened from confusion. Miss Casson's confession both piqued and humiliated him. "I like your candor. Miss Casson," he said, bowing. "I am sure that we shall be good friends at least/' "I hope so. And you have my fullest sympathy." Then she adroitly changed the subject, and talked easily upon other matters —the late season in town, the regatta at Henley, and the prospects of the Goodwood races, going on naively:'

"Hear me chattering with an air and confidence*of a Solon, and I am merely repeating what I have heard and read. 7 wlil leave you to your dreams, Mr Armitage. Lady Annandale will be looking for me." They were standing at the river's edge, and Duncan turned and walked with Miss Casson as far as the lawn. There she parted from him laughingly, her cheeks burning, her heart throbbing, ohe had resolved to play a bold game.

CHAPTER V. "MY DARLING, IF ANYTHING CAME BETWEEN US NOW, I SHOULD DIE." The day was passed in an almost aimless manner by Armitage. Lady Annandale and Miss Casson went for a long walk in the morning. The afternoon was spent by them in their own rooms. There were half a dozen callers, but Lady Annandale was "at home" to no one. Helen Howard wandered from room to room, book in hand, while Acrmitage smoked in the open air, his cap tilted over his eyes. From the window of her boudoir Lady Annandale watched her brother a little curiously. She sat pen in hand, for she was writing a lengthy letter to Lord Rainhill. "He has positively neglected Helen Howaid to-day," she reflected, "and the storm may all be in a teacup l I sincerely hope that it is. But then young men are so capricious—Duncan especially so! My warning can do no possible harm, so Jong as papa observes discretion."

With these thoughts her ladyship continued her letter. At the dinnertable Duncan's interest in life reawoke. He talked brightly, to the ladies, and said he regretted that the day had beert such an utter failure. " 'Three lone women and a man' quoted Miss Casson merri3y. "Lady Annandale, 1 reaily believe that your brother expected us to entertain him! I am sure that you looked supremely happy, Mr Armitage, reclining asleep under your favourite yew tree. A modern Endymion waiting for Cynthia's kiss!" Lady Annandale glanced at Helen Howard's blushing tace, and knitted her brows. "I am afraid that Cynthia neglected me very basely!" laughed Duncan. "Or you neglected Cynthia—which?" I TO PK CONTINUED.!